Safety & Prevention

Where We Stand: Gun Safety

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The most effective way to prevent firearm-related injury to children is to keep guns out of homes and communities. The American Academy of Pediatrics strongly supports gun-control legislation. We believe that assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines should be banned.

We recommend further that handguns and handgun ammunition be regulated, that restrictions be placed on handgun ownership, and that the number of privately owned handguns be reduced. Firearms should be removed from the environments where children live and play, but if they are not, they must be stored locked and unloaded. Safe storage practices can reduce the risk of death or injury, but loaded firearms and unloaded firearms and ammunition represent a serious danger to children.

The information contained on this Web site should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your pediatrician. There may be variations in treatment that your pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances.